Vending-machine



(No Model.) 4 Shefs-Sheet 1.

A. & 0. JAEGER.

VENDING MAGHINB.

No. 533,197 Patented Jan; 29, 1895.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-$heet 2. A. 82: O. JA'EGER.

VENDING MACHINE.

No. 533,197. Patented Jan. 29, 1895.

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I 4 Sheets-Sheet s. A. 85 0. JAEGER- 1 VENDING MACHINE. No. 533,197.

Patented Jan. 29, 1895.

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"A. & 0. JAEGER; VENDING MACHINE.

No. 533,197. Patented Jan. 29, 1895.

ATENT Orrin.

ALEXANDER JAEGER AND OTTO JAEGER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VENDING-MACHINE.

STECIFXCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 533,197, dated January29, 1895.

Application filed May 29,1894. Serial No. 512,863- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ALEXANDER JAEGER and OTTO J AEGER, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphiaand State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new Improvement inVending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in vending machines of that classwhich automatically deliver to the depositor of a coin,

one of any articles that are stored in the machine.

The object of our invention is to provide a new and improved vendingmachine which will be inexpensive in cost of manufacture, very simpleand durable in construction, and most reliable in its operation; second,to supply a device that will be entirely automatic in its operation, andthereby avoiding all complicated power or spring mechanism of anydescription to aid the operation of the machine, by utilizing the powerobtained from the gravity of the articles being vended from the machine,and, third, to produce an automatic vending machine adapted to sellseveral different varieties of articles, having various forms and sizes,and thereby allowing the owner or user of the machine to change thecontents offered for sale when the same is deemed advisable, and thussecuring a greater range of usefulness.

To accomplish the various objects of our invention, we construct anoutside or inclosing case of suitable form and dimensions, andcontaining within its inclosed space, a series of steeply inclined cellsor reservoirs, their lower extremities opening into an inclined feedingreservoirof slightly larger dimensions; and also containing a series ofinclined cells, formed withvertical sides and its base forming anincline. The vertical sides have transversely arranged strips whichsupport a flexible spring over the center of each incline. These springsgive elasticity to the movement of the articles and more especiallyprevents them from being forced upward or out of the confines of theinclined reservoir, which might occur from their gravity, or pressureagainst each other. At the base of each inclined reservoir is arrangedan opening through which the articles drop to the incline planeimmediately below, and so on through the whole course. The articlesdelivered, either from the direct inclined reservoir, fed from itsseries of feeding reservoirs, or from the series of inclined planes,obtain their normal rest or support [drum and engages with a smallergear of onefourth the size, which operates an annunciator, stating onone side the nature of the article and on the other stating when empty.On the reverse end of the drum,there is a deeply recessed or sunkchanneled ratchet wheel, in which a roller pin engages. This roller pinsecurely locks the apparatus and is mounted at the weighted end of apivoted lever, having its longer end provided with a plate, conformed toand closing the end of the coin conducting chute. The passage ordelivery chamber for the articles from the wheel is effectuallyprotected by a pivoted balanced shutter or trap door, which allowsegress of the articles, but which protects the mechanism from alltampering or interference from the outside. At the top of the case areserve storage chamber is arranged, and a suitable receptacle for thecoins provided at the base of the machine; and our invention consists inthe several novel features of construction, devices, combination andoperation of devices hereinafter fully described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a vertical sectional sideelevation on the line X X of Fig. 7, and illustrates that division ofthe machine having the series of inclined cells, and illustrates bydotted lines the other side of the machine with inclined planes, as inFig. 2. Fig. 2 shows a vertical sectional side elevation on the line XX" of Fig. 7 and illustrates the inclined cells or planes on the otherside or division of the machine. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectionalelevation, showing mechanism and taken on the line Z Z of Fig. 6. Flg.

V 4 shows a side elevation of the deeply recessed, channeled ratchet,pivoted balanced releasing lever, with its balance weight and pin withroller, and having coin plate at the other end under the base of thecoin chute. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the deeply recessedchanneled ratchet wheel on line Z Z of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a top or planview of the mechanism, as would be used in each division of the machine.Fig. 7 is a plan showing position of each division.

Similar letters and numbers indicate corresponding parts in thedrawings.

In Fig. 1, A A is the outside case of the machine, which may be made inany ornamental form or design. 13 is the top or lid, hinged at B andsecured by a look not shown in the drawings. The space aforms astoragechamber for a surplus supply of articles, &c. b b b b are the steeplyinclined cells, divided by the divisions b b b. O is the steeplyinclined feeding and receiving chamber, into which the articlescontained in the series of cells I) b b b are fed by their own gravity.

In Fig. 2, D D D D are a series of inclined planes, having an opening gat the base of each incline plane through which the articles pass fromone incline to the nest one below. j is a flexible spring secured at ateach end over the inclines D, to prevent any articles from being forcedupward or out of the sides of the inclines D D D, as the inclines D areintended more for use with articles in the machine, having a sphericalor ball shape. The block g, or its equivalent, which forms a means ofconnecting the various inclined planes together, is curved so as tooffer less resistance to the articles in their descent from one inclineplane to the next inclined plane below, and so on until they arrive atD.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 E shows one of the pillar blocks or supports of thedrum G, gear wheel G and the deep recessed channel ratchet wheel H, withthe channel H, and E shows one of the pillar block supports of thesmaller gear wheel 6 which engages with larger wheel G, and operates orrotates the annunciator f, which is visible through the glass f.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the drum G is shown somewhat plainer, by theremoval of the recessed channel ratchet wheel H. This drum G is providedwith the recesses g, these recesses so formed that the divisions betweenthem are somewhat similar to the rake of a grooving or routing circularsaw tooth, as shown at h. This formation of the recess in the drum aidsthe gravity pressure of the article in its descent.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, F is a curved casing block, conformingto the circle of the drum G, and forming a delivering conductor of thearticles to the outlet J. This outlet J is protected by the balancedpivoted trap shutter J, which is pivoted at K, and has the counterbalancing weight which is so balanced as to keep the shutter trap J inits normal or horizontal position, and thereby effectively closing theoutlet opening J, and preventing malicious tampering with the machine.

Fig. 4: shows an enlarged view of the recessed channel ratchet wheel H,with the recessed channel H, and the angular channel turns I, formingthe banking steps, against which the pin roller 1' engages; the pinroller 2' being mounted at the weighted end L of the locking lever M,pivoted at M and the locking lever M having the plate m traversing thelower end of the coin conductor N.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the recessed channel ratchet wheel Htaken on the line Z Z in Fig. 4, and shows the formation of the wheeland channel H, in which the pin roller stop 1' engages and travels,forming the locking device of the drum G and mechanism.

Fig. 6 shows a plan or top view of the working parts or automaticportion of our invention, as removed from the case, with the relativeparts assembled in their normal positions.

Fig. 7 shows a plan partially in section of the outside case A,containing the mechanical movements, division No. I having the series ofsteeply inclined cells or divisions for mixed articles, and division No.2 having the inclined planes for the spherically formed articles.

Having fully described the various parts and construction comprised inour invention, the operation of the sameis as follows: The cells I) b bb of division No. 1 as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, and the inclined planes DD D D of division No. 2, as shownin Figs. 2 and 7, are all filled withthe articles to be sold or delivered. A coin being dropped in the coinconductor N, descends the conductor and its weight depresses the plate mof the balanced locking lever' M, pivoted at M and falls in the coinchamber P, thereby raising the pin roller t' and releasing the bankingstop I of the recessed channel H of the ratchet wheel H, whichmovement,if the machine has articles stored, permits the articles R topropel or rotate by their downward gravity, the drum G until they fallon the balanced trap J which they depress and pass out atJ to thedelivery chamber S. The gear wheel G being firmly attached to the shaftor end of the drum G, partakes of the same speed and motion as the drumG,and engages with a smaller gear 8, the dimensions of which are soregulated that the small gear Q will make one complete revolution toevery quarter revolution of the drum or larger gear wheel G, thusoperating the annunciatorf, so that itwill at each movement return toits original or normal position as seen at Q. This motion and resultisobtained by the combined action of the two articles in the wheel. Asthelever M is released, the first article W descends and passes out, andbefore the roller pin i engages with the next IIO stop I, the article Whas maintained the rotary movement of the drum G, until it has arrivedat the position occupied by the preceding article W, and the lockingroller pin 2' engages with the next stop I of the ratchet wheel H, andat which time another article has dropped into the position formerlyoccu pied by the article W. These motions are repeated as each coin isdropped into the machine, until the last article in the machine hasarrived at its position as shownin Fig. 3, when, if a coin isdropped,the releasing mechanism operates as before described, and the articlepasses out, but as there are no more articles to follow, the drum hasonly made one-eighth of a revolution, and stops, with the roller pin t'at V, or midway between two of the banking stops I of the ratchet wheelH,

thus only allowing the small gear 6' to make half a revolution andthereby exposing the reverse side of the angular annunciator f, as shownat Y, and announcing the machine is empty.

It will be obvious that a vending machine, involving in its constructionsuch simple and inexpensive mechanical means for its operation, will bevery desirable.

Changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted; to Withoutdeparting from or sacrificing any advantages of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new isr 1. In avending machine, the combination with the frame work; of a reservoir,formed of a series of inclined ways, connected together to form acontinuous passage or way, and hav-- ing an opening formed at its lowerend to admit of the passage of an article; mechanism for releasing saidarticle; said mechanism comprising a rotary drum G, having recesses g,said drum being adapted to be rotated by the gravity of the articlesdescending from said reservoir; annunciator f, operated by means ofrotating gear wheel G and gear e; ratchet wheel I-I, balanced lever M,having roller pin '1, for operating said releasing mechanism andweighted trap J, substantially as described.

2. In a vending machine, the combination with the frame work; of areservoir, formed of a series of inclinedways, each way opening into areceiving chamber formed in said reservoir, said receiving chamberhaving an opening formed at its lower end to admit of the passage of anarticle; mechanism for releasing said article, comprising a rotary drumG, having recesses g, said drum being adapted to be rotated by thegravity of the articles descending from said reservoir; annunciator foperated by means of rotating gear wheel G and gear e ratchet wheel Hand balanced lever M having roller pin 2' for operating said releasingmechanism; and weighted trap J, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a vending machine, a rotary drum G, provided withthe recesses g and operated by the articles vended, the rotating gearwheel Gr operating the gear e", and angular annunciatorf, lever M,pivoted at M and having a balance weight L, and roller pin '5, operatingby the weight of a coin falling on the plate m, and releasing the pinroller '5, from the stop I of the recessed ratchet wheel H, the articlesreleased passing through weighted trap J and gravitating to the deliveryopening S, substantially as shown and described and for the purposespecified.

In testimony whereof we have affixed our I signatures in the presence oftwo witnesses.

ALEXANDER JAEGER. o'rro JAEGER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE MoCURDY, P. E. PIERCE.

